The era of personal luxury coupes hailing from Detroit in the 1970s was not entirely dissimilar from the van craze of the same period. These were uniquely American conditions, as both segments were not so much born out of new models as they were reimagined purposes of existing vehicles. Vans were mostly the result of personalized customizing, where private consumers decided to take them in an entirely different direction than manufacturers ever intended; the personal luxury coupe was what domestic manufacturers created to transform existing models into high-end transportation. The Ford Gran Torino Elite is such a car, and this baby blue example can be found here on craigslist for $6,000 with under 100,000 miles.
If you want to get a sense of the wide variety of personal luxury coupes available for purchase in the 70s and 80s, watch the epic Rober DeNiro film Casino. It’s hard to watch more than 10 minutes of that film without seeing a big-body domestic go lumbering by, either in the background or driven by one of the main characters. In fact, one could argue the Mafia was the target market for such vehicles, thanks to the large trunks most of them came with. The Gran Torino Elite was a rehash of the existing Mercury Cougar XR7, and both cars were built off of the Mercury Montego platform.
The differences were entirely cosmetic in nature, with some styling tweaks here and there to set the models apart. I always wondered how well it was known at the time that a car like the Cougar was also a Gran Torino and vice versa. Did anyone care? Did the Mercury buyers feel slighted by the fact their car was also known as a mere Ford in some parts of the world? Of course, I guarantee you if you told most Lexus and Infiniti buyers today that their cars are based on current Toyota and Nissan models, they wouldn’t believe you. Sometimes, as a manufacturer, it has to feel like you’re shooting fish in a barrel simply by swapping a grill and some badges. The Gran Torino Elite shown here comes with a pretty blue leather interior that appears to be in excellent condition.
The seller reports that this example is a barn find but doesn’t elaborate as to how long it was stored or the conditions it was found in. Given how clean the paint appears in photos, it had to have been a decent set-up for long-term slumber as I can’t see much in the way of dings or rust on the body. The seller reports that this Gran Torino is equipped with the “big motor” that he refers to as a 400M; I suspect he is referring to the 351M, which was very similar to the 400 but featured a 351 Windsor crank and a 400 block. Regardless of engine nomenclature, this Gran Torino Elite looks like a nicely kept survivor that fits the personal luxury coupe demographic to a T.
This was another iteration of the many “mid-size” Ford and Mercury models in the mid-70’s, culminating with the T-Birds of 77-79. We had one as a family car, a 72 Gran Torino 4-door. Splitting hairs a bit, I believe that in 1976 Ford called this just “Elite” as opposed to “Gran Torino Elite.”
As Jeff points out, the personal luxury coupes at this time were very popular, and all the manufacturers had entries. And as he correctly points out, undoubtedly very profitable given they were mostly just upgraded trim. And yes, I doubt many non-car-people know their classy Lexus is just a basic Toyota underneath.
Typical poor Craigslist ad. This example isn’t perfect but isn’t bad. Might be a good cruiser and something different at Cars & Coffee.
Anytime I see a scented Christmas tree pictured in an old car my mind automatically goes to mice. It takes a long time to get rid of that smell even after finding/removing the nest(s).
Before Subarus, this was the classic old lady car. Every church parking lot had several and I dare say, this car was just that. Finally come to light at the estate sale when granny passed on. They were nice cars, always seemed to have funky steering and didn’t these jump out of park? Expect many trips to AutoPlace with this one.
My grandmother had the 4-door Granada version of this car.
The Granada was not a version of this car. Totally different thing
No, they weren’t known for jumping out of park, apparently there were a few instances, so Ford came out with a parking pawl recall for all vehicles, as a Ford mechanic at the time, I never saw it happen, Ford sent out a letter to all owners along with a decal stating, “Always ensure your shift lever is in the park position, and your parking brake is applied. And what’s an AutoPlace?
I’ve seen two of them jump from Park to Reverse and go ’round and ’round in a circle until they either ran out of gas or jammed up against a lighting pole.
blocker, pretty sure “AutoPlace” here is a reference to a generic chain-auto store.
I had a 1996 Ford Econoline as a company vehicle and that thing “jumped out of park ” if you didn’t make sure it was fully engaged.
that front bumper…..shudder…
My thoughts also, but… it does make a nice bench seat!
Great colors! Need to put on a white belt and shoes to drive this one …
Exactly! Think Herb Tarlick from WKRP…
There was a 351 modified and a 400 modified engine I thought, Broncos of 78-79 had them.
74 was the only “Grand Torino Elite”
The rest of the years, it was the “Ford Elite”
It is a Ford Elite. Ford never produced any model called a Gran Torino Elite. Unfortunately it has the worthless 351M/400 motor. Sucks gas and dead as a doornail. I know because I had a 76 Cougar XR7 with the same motor. That said, it was a beautiful car.
The 351M maybe, but not the 400, my dad bought a new 73 Monterey with a 400, I had a 74 Ranchero with a 400, and a 79 Bronco with a 400. None were slouche’s by any means.
The Elite was a spinoff of the Torino in 1974, two different cars, and both were replaced by the LTDII in 1977.
I stand corrected. Checked my Ford “Bible” and yes, that model was only made for one year: 1974. Should have known because Ford was famous for only making a model for one year. It happened many times during the 70s and 80s.
I have a 76 Elite.. 57k on the odometer and very happy with it. Smooth, quiet ride and the hood is so long I have to be careful of what’s in front of me. The 351m is thirsty, but it’s worth all the ooos and ahhhs I get at the gas station and car shows. Some parts are difficult to find because the Elite was limited in its’ production. It’s a keeper and yes, as mentioned above, it fits i well at the cars and coffee gatherings.
What color combo?
my older brother’s first car was an Elite. All white with burgundy interior. I always thought it was a nice car, but i was probably 12. Wish he would’ve handed it down to me instead of trading it for his first pickup
My high school graduation present 1976 Elite (yes no “Gran Torino”) is down in my barn waiting for me to have the money to fix her up. Black with black half vinyl top and gold interior. I wanted a T-Bird and my Dad wanted to buy a Mustang II. The Elite was a compromise. $6,200.00 brand new. Will probably be sold for scrap when I croak.
Similar story, graduated in 76 as well. Parents gave me $5000 to buy a new car, ended up buying a 75 white over red Elite with 12000 miles on it from Hertz rental fleet for 4K and pocketed the rest. I occasionally look for Elites. I could be wrong but it seems the badging was 74 – Grand Torino Elite, 75 – Torino Elite, the 76 – Elite. I could be wrong, at 65 I have an excellent memory but its real short!
Looking to reply to someone is next to impossible!
This is a reply: my brother also bought a new 74, also was white with red top and interior and I was 16 it was a great car and fast. I was with him and he was right with a 70ish SS chevelle on the highway. The elite had a 460! The SS had a 4aomething? Or a 3something. I know it was not a 350! Lol.
It wasn’t a 454 LS6 in that Chevelle. In 74’ the fastest American car was the Firebird SD 455’ and the chevelle would have blown it away. So there’s that too.
Guess I was not there.
And it was like a 71ish, so there is that also.
Hi Fran, you mean can’t respond to another commenter? I don’t think you have to be a member, heck, non-members bash me all the time. If I may persuade you to become a member, it helps the site. I didn’t know you could get an Elite with a 460, but you are right. the only Camaro run with it would have to be a big block. Apparently, I read, only 4% of Elites had the 460, so a rare car indeed.
I like the blue paint job, the classic personal luxury styling and the overall condition of the car. The Ford power steering of that time was overassisted and not as responsive as GM variable ratio power steering. Younger readers may not realize those long hoods on all makes made maneuvering in tight spaces a chore. A coworker who owned an Elite back in the day said the vehicle rode nicely. The 351 engine did not run like a 460 or GM 455 by any means. A great intermediate time machine but not as sporty as it looks even by 1976 standards.
Love the bumpers!! The front one can double as a picnic table!
I never saw “old ladies” driving these cars, when new. But there were a lot of us young guys buying them up, when they were used cars.
I bought a 75 Elite back then, was loaded with everything including power sunroof. I was in my early 20’s. Cool car and loved the style. Mine had the 351W. Very reliable and not as bad on gas as the 351C. Of course gas was 75 cents a gal too. One of my most favorite cars.
We left Marin County to go to Framingham Mass. We had a 57 Tbird in the moving van, unfortunately, the van caught on fire and torched most of our stuff and the 57. My stepfather bought my mom a pinto wagon. About a year and a half later we drove back across the country to Oregon towing the pinto. Mom went down to pick up the pinto at the Ford dealer (it was having some work done on it) salesman drives around in this humongous deep red boat and handed her the keys. “that’s not my car, the sales guy says it is now. Deep red Grand Torino Elite with red interior. I hated having to wash that behemoth and clean those spoke hub caps.
My mother’s 1976 Ford Granada Ghia had the same bumpers. Which came in handy as she use to bump into things….and hardly did any damage to them.
When my Charger was in repair, I used it a few times.
She had that thing forever….well past it’s prime. it literally crawled up hills with it’s 6 cylinder engine. I really hated driving it. lol
Same type of bumper, but not the same , these cars were classed as mid size, the Granada were compacts , but yeah, these big bumpers took a lickin and kept on tickin !
We called those Falcon based Granadas…Grenades. They were junk, but Ford sold a ton.
Hard to justify buying this when the T-Bird came out just a year later. I realize they’re pretty much the exact same car but that rebranding was so effective, so cool, it was amazing, even now looking back.
The 460 4bbl was available as an option on the 1976 Ford Elite. Source: original brochure scanned at this website: lov2xl8.no. Sales literature said the 351 V8 was standard.
I had a ’74 Elite with a 460 and a ’76 XR7 with the 351W. Both white, the Elite with tan cloth and Landau top and the XR7 with red leather and Landau top. The 460 was a monster, but the Windsor was a lot easier to drive,
Bought a new 1979 T-Bird triple black Heritage Edition in 1980. It was left over with a few miles. Probably the most luxuries I have seen in a new car. It was a land yaught and I think my wife did enjoy driving it. I think this Grand Torino could be a good buy and a fun driver.
There’s no such thing as a Ford 400M engine. It is simply a 400 which is basically a tall deck 351 Cleveland. The Ford 400 debuted in 1971 and was touted as the 351 Cleveland’s Big brother due to the half inch longer stroke. It also uses larger main bearing journals at 3 in or the same size as a 351 Windsor however the rod journals are the same size as a 351 Cleveland. Additionally, The bell housing bolt pattern is the same as a 385 series V8 whereas the 351 Windsor had the same bellhousing bolt pattern as the later 289 V8, the 302, the 300 straight six ,the 250 straight six and the very rare big bellhousing 200 straight 6. The Ford 400 actually displaces 402 cubic inches. Ford was having difficulty keeping up with production of the 351 Windsor for their intermediate passenger cars and decided to destroke the 400 by changing out the crank and pistons and made a 351M. The 351M does not use a 351 Windsor crank. To distinguish it between the 351 Windsor and the 351 Cleveland (The 351 Cleveland was discontinued in 1974) they simply called it a 351M. The 400 and 351M are the same exact tall deck block. You can stroke a 351M to a 400 by changing the crank and pistons. Like I stated earlier, the 351M is a destroked 400 but there is no such thing as a 400M. Many people get confused due to the emission control sticker on the valve cover which indicates the engine family as a 351M/400 but I can assure you the 400 is simply the 400 and the 351M is simply the 351M.
Had a 76 Elite and loved it . I was still only a kid so it took a beating but never let me down. It was just a great car. Chestnut brown with contrasting 1/4 vinyl top in a metallic tan had wire wheels on it . Buffed out to a super glossy finish. Had the 351M. .
Fender trim off one of these would fit a Lincoln Mark IV as well.